I. VETERANS ARE A TOP PRIORITYWe affirm that American Veterans are a top priority for the nation’s policy agenda.

II. VETERANS DESERVE TIMELY ANSWERSThe VA itself says it should respond to disability claims within 125 days. Currently, reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found the average wait time is 202 days, with over 525,000 veterans waiting for answers today. Although the average wait is down from last year, the average wait was 161 days in 2009. We affirm the wait time for veterans filing a claim should be no more than the goal the VA set for itself: 125 days.

III. NEGOTIATION IN VA PROCUREMENT SERVICESAn extensive GAO investigation found that the VA procurement system is wasting billions of dollars of the taxpayers’ money. The VA was found to spend $7 billion in issuing over 130,000 purchase orders for which there was no negotiation of services for competitive rates. 70% of the purchase orders had no venders’ names! We affirm that the VA should negotiate for its procurement services.

IV. VA COLLECTION OF INSURANCE FEESA 16 month GAO investigation into billing and collecting processes showed that the VA failed to collect $12 billion over time from insurance companies. “Inadequate management and little or no oversight” resulted in coding errors and outright failures to follow up on collections. The GAO found there are “no policies or procedures for oversight” at the $140 billion agency. We affirm that the VA should collect on all possible past and ongoing insurance fees owed to the agency.

With a growing need for adequate veteran services in face of a huge national deficit, more appropriations are not a viable or needed option. Very strict oversight and reform of VA fiscal management can be converted to broader critical services, with no extra cost to tax payers.

As in years past, the Center for American Homeless Veterans will proudly publicize Members who affirm the Bill of Rights as Champions for American Veterans to the national, regional, and local media in every state and Congressional District in America.